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Monday, November 30, 2009

I have to thank Jennifer for tipping me off to this yummy, yummy recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread. Super tasty & moist. It only took one day for my family to finish off a loaf. Jennifer says that it makes about 30 muffins which freeze nicely, so I may be making muffins the next go around. :)

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Here are all the people on the Todd side of the family that we spent our holiday with. Good times.

And the big pie event. All of the grandkids on my side of the family (There are 13 of them) get together with my Mom to make pumpkin pies. Each kid makes their own mini pie. I was happy that my girls could be involved for the first time this year.

I have much to be thankful for. Number one is for sure my peeps. We are so blessed.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I helped in Sadie's kindergarten class this morning because they were making gingerbread houses before their winter break. After today she doesn't go back to school until Jan 4th. We're all pretty excited to have her home during these fun holidays. Especially with the nice warm weather we're getting.

Anyway, these gingerbread houses were just so clever & perfect for little kids that I have to share. The teacher pre-made the little houses. She hot glued graham cracker pieces onto an empty milk box (you know the little ones they get with their cafeteria lunches). Then she hot glued the house onto the paper plate. That way the houses wouldn't fall over or collapse while they spread on frosting & put on all the candy pieces. Also with the house glued to the plate, they could carry their houses all by themselves a little more securely.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

I made 9 pairs of cozy flannel pajama pants for the girls this weekend. 5 pairs for the big one & 4 pairs for the little one. All of the flannel fabric was from my mother-in-law's stash (except for the blue print....that was a purchase of mine from a while back). So these pants cost me very little to make. If saving money wasn't the objective here, I'd be all over this new Folksy Flannel from Anna Maria Horner. So pretty!

Flannel is going on sale at Joann's this Friday for $1.49 per yard. But it's a Friday doorbuster, so that's the only day to get this price. Just so you know...

Friday, November 20, 2009

Sorry for my absence around this space lately. We've had a busy, busy week around here. Hopefully my posting will get a bit more interesting as I get ready to go full force with my Christmas crafting.

On an unrelated note, I've been doing some thinking lately....I am a very self conscious person. I have lived my entire life worrying about what others might be thinking about me. Worrying that they are judging me based on this or that. Well, lately I just don't care anymore. I am happy with myself & the way I choose to live my life. I present myself in a way that reflects the principles & standards that are so important to me. If somebody else is judging me...that's their problem.

I'm wondering, did this come about because of my age? Has turning 30 made me feel like it's time to let all the worry go? Or is it being back in my home town? Does Las Vegas give me a confidence that I've never had before?

I think the real answer is just that I'm progressing for now. My insecurities could all resurface at any moment & I could very well go through another period of being too critical of myself & of others for perhaps thinking that I don't dress very cute or that maybe I should take better care of my body. Because I know they think that! I'm a mind reader after all.

Who knows. For now I'll just enjoy this moment for feeling good in my skin & proud of the person that I am inside & out. I hope that you all can take some time this weekend to think about all the things that make you great & all that you do to make the lives of your family & friends so wonderful. It's good to remember how loved we are....just the way we are.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

My sister-in-law, Lilia, is having a baby boy soon & I was invited to her baby shower yesterday. For her gift I decided to make the baby swaddler from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing For Baby book. I really am quite in love with that book...the projects, the layout, the photos. This is the first project that I've made for the book, but I want to make everything in it!

I used a soft homespun cotton for the outside (found in the red tag section at JoAnn's) & a mustard colored fleece for the lining. I think it's quite adorable. I'm pretty anxious to see a sweet little baby in it. For sure making this didn't help with my baby hunger issues at all.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Dylan has a guest post up over at Rachel's blog Smile & Wave today. He designed a free downloadable paper cd case for you all. Mix cds are such sweet, thoughtful gifts & super great especially for guys that are hard to buy for. Go check it out!

Monday, November 09, 2009

Do you even want to get me going about buying handmade & local? I feel super strongly about both. For all of you in Vegas, there is a great opportunity coming up for both. I will be participating in the Behind the Picket Fence craft boutique with many other talented crafters. Come shop for holiday gifts & support your local economy & some hardworking artists rather than big corporations.

Mark your calendars. The show runs from Nov. 19th - Nov. 21st.

You can find more information about why buying handmade is so totally awesome right here.

One other note. You may have noticed that the prices for our posters have gone up recently. There's a reason for this. We've upgraded the paper that we're printing posters on. It's a bit thicker & a little textured & super nice.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Sadie didn't have to go to school on Monday because of a staff development day so we decided to go take a little hike out at Red Rock. Actually Dylan decided that we should & I must say it was an excellent idea. The girls had a blast on our rocky little hike. Claire did not want to be carried at all. She wanted to navigate the rocks all on her own. Sadie was filthy by the end of it...sufficiently covered in dust.

I'm learning that it is important that we take advantage of this time with Dylan at home to make special outings as a family. It really was quite a simple day but hopefully our kids will remember it fondly.

And I am totally thrown off season wise by the weather here. Mid 80's all week makes my internal clock think it's summer time & I am not feeling any pressure to get holiday work done. Which makes me freak out whenever I look at the calendar & remember that it's actually November & the days are moving by quite quickly. Christmas will be here before we know it. We'll see if I'll be ready for it this year. For now I'll continue to wear a t-shirt & flip flops & try not to stress.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Oh yes. I own a serger now & yes there is a good story behind it. Last month, just after we'd decided to move quickly to Las Vegas but before news had really spread that we were moving or why, my super dear friend Maria came for a visit. She said that she had an early birthday gift for me & wanted to bring it by. So when she & another friend Terri showed up with a rather large box, I was a bit confused. I opened the attached card & learned that this gift was from 13 awesome ladies & friends that I know from church. They had all pitched in to give me this serger! When I opened the box & saw it, I cried.

Whenever a holiday or birthday comes up, Dylan will ask me what I want. I always say "nothing". Then he asks me what I would want if money was no factor & I always say "a serger".

I cannot believe that these sweet ladies would do this for me. Little ol' me! I love this machine & I've already used it lots. I was so happy to have it to finish off the satin capes for my girls' Halloween costumes. What a mess they would have been without my serger! I am so grateful to Maria for the time she put into hunting this machine down & then for arranging for the group effort in purchasing it. And I am so thankful for all the dear friends that pitched in. They seriously made a little dream of mine come true.

Which reminds me...I have about a hundred thank you cards that I need to write. Which also reminds me...we have some new printable fabric stash note cards in the shop. Pay for the download once & then print them as many times as you need them!

I believe in being positive. I believe in love & family. I believe in handmade. I believe in doing good to others. I believe that we are all connected. I believe that every little bit adds up to make a big difference. My name is Candace. I'm married to the love of my life & am the mother to two super cool girls & one sweet baby boy. I love sewing, cooking, thrifting & photography.